Condenser



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LMAN

CONDT'NSER NVENTOR v BY y v www Patented Feb. ZZ, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in condensers.

The particular condenser herein disclosed is specially designed for use as a part of a refrigerating system, where it effects great economies. A variety of other constructions embodying the invention may, however, readily be adapted to different uses.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved type of condenser employing as its principle of operation an arrangement for delivering the coolant to the condensable gas as nearly as possible at the point of condensation so that the coldest. portion of the coolant is always acting upon the portion of. the gas which is delivering up the greatest amount of heat (in the form of latent heat).

Another object of the invention is to employ the aforesaid principle effectively in a device in which the initial cooling of the gas to be condensed is effected by commingling it directly with previously formed condensate. y

Another object of the invention is to combine a jacket type condenser with an evaporation type condenser to promote the efficient use of the coolant.

Another object of the invention is to employ the kinetic energy of the gas entering the condenser as a means of circulating the condensate with reference to the cooling surfaces as well as the nozzle through which gases are newly arriving into the apparatus.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in axial section of. one embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken in transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the views.

I have chosen to illustrate my invention by disclosing a very simple and economically manufactured embodiment thereof in which an annular tank 3 having an interior chamber 4. for the gas and condensate is provided with heads 5 and 6 which close its interior cavity 'l for use as a reservoir or jacket for the coolant.

The water which is preferably used as a coolant enters through pipe 8 and is directed by the small apertures 9 in the lower wall of said pipe against the lower interior surface of the tubular inner wall I of the tank 3.

A similar pipe ll serves as a collector, and through it the water leaves cavity 1 and is carried away to any suitable point of discharge. Preferably, however, a length of pipe l2 which serves as an extension of pipe ll is carried over the top of the container 3 and provided with small apertures from Which at least some portion of the water sprays over the outer surface of container 3 to cool such outer surface by evaporation.

The gas or vapor to be condensed is supplied through the pipe l5 which terminates within an elongated cylindrical chamber i6 which is preferably substantially concentric with the pipe i5 and which communicates with the annular reservoir il. through manifold i8 and a return duct l1. The tubular chamber l5, as well as the interior chamber i of the reservoir, will normally be at least partially filled with condensate. Any uncondensable gases such as entrained air or the like, will accumulate in the upper part 4 of the annular reservoir and may from time to time be drawn off through the pipe i9 subject to the control of a valve 20.

The condensate is drawn off through a pipe 2| in which a valve 22 may be incorporated if desired.

Assuming that the device is operating upon ammonia vapor, the gas arrives through pipe l5 and condenses upon the chilled inner tubular wall il) of. the reservoir 3. Since the gas gives up the .greatest portion. of its heat at the time it is condensed and is giving off its latent heat, it will be obvious that the water delivered through the ports 9 is being directed against that surface of the wall l0 where it will be most effective in absorbing heat.

When suflicient condensate has accumulated so that the chamber I6 is full of condensate and the chamber fl is partially lled therewith, the continued arrival of the gas` through pipe l5 will entrain the liquid condensate in chamber l5 and cause a circulation thereof to force such condensate against the chilled surface of wall Il). The gases arriving through pipe l5 are delivered into intimate contact directly with the wet condensate independently of any intervening wall and are consequently very efciently cooled immediately upon their arrival in chamber Hi, so that they tend to condense either in chamber I6 or in the lower part of chamber l! against the wall l) to which the coldest cooling water is being delivered.

The liquid ammonia will flow through pipe 2l to return to the evaporator and, as above indicated, any accumulations of air or other uncondensable gases in the upper part of the reservoir are drawn off through pipe I9. The arrangement eliminates the necessity for a separate separator.

To draw liquid or gases from the chamber 4 at different levels additional pipes 23 and 24 may be provided as desired.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heat exchanger including a chamber for condensate and uncondensable gases, of means for delivering a condensable gas to said chamber below the level of condensate therein, means providing a cooling surface disposed directly in the path of said gas and condensate with which said gas has contacted, said surface being disposed below said level and between the point of gas admission and the nearest point at said level, whereby to tend to condense such condensable gas before it can become commingled with uncondensable gas above said level, and means for delivering a coolant directly to said surface for the immediate absorption of latent heat given oi in the condensation of said gas both to said surface and to condensate adjacent said surface.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with wall means forming a compartment for condensate having a predetermined wall portion adapted to be submerged in condensate in said compartment, and circulatory means for directing a iiow of coolant directly upon said wall portion, of a conduit communicating at its ends with said compartment and containing condensate, one end of said conduit being directed toward said wall portion, and a delivery pipe for condensable gases terminating below the level of the condensate and directed along said conduit in a position such that the gases delivered thereby will entrain condensate and induce a current toward s aid wall portion.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with means forming a pair of chambers one within the other having a common partition wall positioned to be submerged in the contents. of both chambers, of means for directing a coolant against a lower portion of said wall in oneA of said chambers, means for withdrawing coolant from another portion of the same charnber, means for introducing a condensable gas into the other of said chambers below the level of condensate therein and directly below said wall, said means being adapted to induce a iiow of such gas and condensate toward said lower wall portion, and means for withdrawing condensate from the last mentioned chamber.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with means forming a pair of chambers` one within the other having a common partition wall positioned to be submerged in the contents of both chambers, of means for directing a coolant against a lower portion of said wall in one of said chambers, means for withdrawing coolant from another portion of the same chamber, means for introducing a condensable gas into the other of said chambers below the level of condensate therein and directly below said wall, said means being adapted to induce a flow of such gas and condensate toward said lower wall portion, means for withdrawing condensate from the last mentioned chamber, and means communicating with the top of said last mentioned chamber for withdrawing non.- condensable gases therefrom.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with an annular condensate reservoir, of means closing the ends thereof to provide a coolant chamber within said reservoir, said chamber and reservoir having a common wall with a lower portion positioned to be submerged in the contents of both chambers, means for delivering a coolant into said chamber against said lower portion of said wall, means for withdrawing coolant from another portion of said chamber, and gas supply means connected with said reservoir and arranged below the level of condensate in said reservoir to direct the supplied gases and entrained condensate toward said wall portion.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with an annular reservoir and means closing the ends of its interior cavity to provide a chamber for coolant, said reservoir and chamber having a common submerged partition wall, oi means entering said coolant chamber and comprising a pipe arranged to direct coolant toward a portion of said wall below the normal level of condensate in said reservoir, a conduit below the level of condensate in said reservoir having its ends in communication with said reservoir and arranged with one of its ends directed toward said partition wall portion, a supply pipe operatively connected to deliver condensable gas to said conduit in a direction to induce a flow of said gas and condensate toward said wall portion, means for withdrawing condensate from said reservoir, and means for withdrawing coolant from said chamber.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with an annular reservoir and means closing the ends of its interior cavity to provide a chamber for coolant, said reservoir and chamber having a common partition wall, of means entering said coolant chamber and comprising a pipe arranged to direct coolant toward a portion of said wall below the normal level of condensate in said reservoir, a conduit below the level of condensate in said reservoir having its en ds in communication with said reservoir and arranged with one of its ends directed toward said partition wall portion, a supply pipe operatively connected to deliver condensable gas to said conduit in a direction to induce a flow of said gas and condensate toward said wall portion, means for withdrawing condensate from said reservoir, and means for withdrawing coolant from said chamber, said coolant withdrawal means having openings arranged to deliver at least a portion of the withdrawn coolant over the exterior surface of the reservoir to provide additional cooling by evaporation therefrom.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heat exchanger including a condensate chamber and a coolant chamber having a common partition wall, said condensate chamber having another wall portion exposed to the atmosphere, means for directing a flow of coolant into the coolant chamber against said Wall, means for directing the flow of incoming gas and condensate against said wall, and means for withdrawing coolant and condensate from the respective chambers, the coolant withdrawing means being arranged to deliver at least a portion of the coolant over the surface of the exposed wall of the condensate chamber for evaporation of the coolant from said wall.

9. The combination with a heat exchanger including a chamber for condensate having a cooling wall, of means for delivering a condensable gas to said chamber below the level of condensate therein, said wall being provided with a portion having a horizontal component disposed above said means at an angle to the vertical upon the path of movement of the gas and condensate in said chamber, and means for directing a moving stream of coolant against said wall for the immediate absorption of latent heat given oir in the condensation of said gas.

10. In a d-eviceof the character described, the combination with a heat exchanger including chambers for condensate and for coolant having a common partition wall adapted to be submerged in condensate and coolant, of means for delivering a condensable gas to a bottom portion rof the condensate chamber below the normal level of condensate therein, said wall being disposed vertically above said means in the path of said gas and the condensate set in motion in the condensate chamber by the admission of said gas, an admission pipe for coolant communicating with the coolant chamber and provided with discharge means submerged in the coolant in said chamber and directed against said partition wall at the point of contact of gas and coolant therewith for the immediate absorption of latent heat given ofi in the condensation of said gas, and discharge means leading from said coolant chamber to accommodate a flow of coolant from said chamber after its contact with said wall.

1l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heat exchanger including a coolant chamber having a wall providing a cooling surface, admission and discharge means for establishing a ow of coolant through said chamber, the admission means being adapted to be submerged in coolant and arranged to direct a ow of coolant against said wall, a circulatory condensate system exposed to said surface in heat transferring relation thereto, and means for directing a condensable gas into said system in a direction to establish circulation of condensate therein flowing from the point of admission of said gas toward said surface for the delivery thereto of the latent heat given ci in the condensation of the gas entrained in the circulating condensate in said system.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heat exchanger having compartments for coolant and condensate, the latter compartment having space above the level of condensate therein to receive uncondensable gases, said compartments having a common partition wall portion below said level at an angle to the vertical, of means forming a circulatory passage communicating at spaced points with the compartment for condensate, one of the points being directly below said wall portion, means including a pipe for delivering condensable gases to said passage in a direction to induce circulation in said passage and the compartment for condensate to- Ward said partion wall portion, means for delivering a coolant to the Compartment therefOI in proximity to the portion of said wall portion toward which such circulation occurs, whereby to condense the condensable gases before theyreach said level.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of heat exchanging means providing a coolant compartment and a condensate compartment, the latter compartment being arranged to retain non-condensable gases above the level of condensate, and said compartments being provided with a common partition wall, of means forming a chamber separate from said compartments and provided with spaced passages com.- municating with the condensate compartment, one of said passages leading toward a portion of said Wall, and said wall portion intervening between said last passage and said level, means including a pipe terminating in said separate chamber and directed toward said last mentioned passage for delivering a condensable gas to said chamber in. a direction to induce circulation through said chamber, said passages, and said condensate compartment in the direction of said wall portion, whereby to condense the condensable gas before it reaches said level to become commingled with non-condensable gases thereabove.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with heat exchanging means providing a coolant compartment and a condensate compartment with a common partition wall, of means forming a chamber separate from said compartment and provided with spaced passages communicating with the condensate compartment, one of said passages leading toward a portion of said wall intervening between said last passage and the level of condensate in said compartment, means including a pipe terminating in said separate chamber and directed toward said last mentioned passage for delivering a condensable gas to said chamber in a direction to induce circulation through said chamber, said passages, and said condensate compartment in the direction of said wall portion, and means for circulating coolant through the coolant compartment and including a pipe for delivering coolant directed toward the aforesaid wall portion.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with wall means forming a compartment for condensate having a portion adapted to be continuously submerged in condensate in said compartment, and means for directing a flow of coolant immediately upon said wall portion, of means including a pipe for condensable gases directed toward said wall portion and terminating below the level of condensate in said compartment for instituting a current of condensate with said gases in the direction of said wall portion.

FREDRICK GE'ITELMAN. 

